BYU Dive Earn Top-10 Placements in Air Force Invite

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado – The BYU dive team earned several top-10 finishes during the three-day Air Force Invitational on Feb. 6-8. 

“This was an outstanding meet where we were able to compete in multiple events more than once to prepare for our upcoming conference meet,” BYU head diving coach Tyce Routson said. “We had outstanding performances by several divers. We have some battle bruises, but we finished strong after a lot of diving and we will be mentally stronger and prepared for conference in two weeks.”

In the men’s 3-meter finals, Mickey Strauss posted his season high and earned second place with a score of 376.27. Nathan Gonzales followed in third in the 3-meter finals with a score of 331.20. 

Kimble Mahler was the highest finisher in the men’s 1-meter finals at 311.25 and had qualifying NCAA Zone scores in all three events. Gonzales received a high score in the 1-meter semifinals, posting a 310.25 and finishing third.

Morgan Mellow-Dopp led the Cougar women in the 3-meter with a 278.75, while teammate Morgan Paul received a 258.85. In the 1-meter event, Kaela Call received a season-high with a score of 259.15 and Mellow-Dopp followed with at 250.05. 

During the competition, BYU was able to compete in the platform event for the first time this season. 

For the men, three Cougars placed in the top-10 in finals. Mahler placed fifth, posting a score of 289.05. Gonzales and Eric Muir placed eighth and ninth with scores of 277.20 and 250.75, respectively. 

Kaela Call took the lead for the women’s platform event, placing fifth with a score of 216.45. Paul and Kaylie Jackson placed ninth and 10th with scores of 197.55 and 197.15, respectively.

The Cougars will prepare for the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championship. The swimmers will be in Monterey Park, California, at East Los Angeles Community College on Feb. 19-22 while the divers will be in Mission Viejo at the Marguerite Aquatic Center on March 5-6.